Following a public vote carried out by BAFTA, Shenmue has been crowned the most influential game of all time. The vote was carried out as part of BAFTA’s 2025 Game Awards and asked the public to choose the game they felt had the biggest impact on the industry. The poll is a follow-up to last year, when BAFTA asked the public to vote on the most iconic video game character, which Lara Croft of Tomb Raider fame won.

 

Shenmue was released in 1999 for the Sega Dreamcast and received almost unanimous plaudits from critics and players alike. It took storytelling in video games to a new level, as did its open-world design that included a living, breathing city. The main character, Ryo, still feels rounded and believable to this day, and it introduced many gameplay mechanics that we enjoy in modern open-world gaming. It’s night and day mechanic was revolutionary and helped players become absorbed in the world they found themselves in.

 

Yu Suzuki, creator of the Shenmue franchise, provided his thoughts on winning the poll, saying “I am deeply honoured and grateful that Shenmue has been selected as the Most Influential Video Game of All Time. At its inception, we set out to explore the question, ‘How real can a game become?’”

 

 

In a press Statement, BAFTA said. “Today BAFTA has confirmed SEGA’s open-world action-adventure title Shenmue as the Most Influential Video Game of All Time after tallying the results of its public poll. Instigated to celebrate the 21st BAFTA Games Awards, players from around the world were able to cast their vote to determine the winner once and for all.”

 

The 21st BAFTA Games Awards takes place on Tuesday, 8 April 2025 at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Southbank Centre, London. The awards will be hosted by comedian Phil Wang and live streamed on BAFTA’s YouTube and Twitch channels.

 

Choosing the games with the greatest influence on the industry is a tough ask with so many factors to look at. Everything from groundbreaking graphics, gameplay or design, right through to brilliant storytelling or realism. A complete list of the top 20 most influential games decided in the poll also shows that fun and replayability are strong factors. Games such as Tetris, Pong and Minecraft show that sometimes the influence of a game isn’t all about the technical or artistic aspects.

 

 

The most influential video games of all time (ranked by order of votes received):

 

Top 10

 

Shenmue:  (1999) This action-adventure game follows Ryo Hazuki’s quest to avenge his father’s death in a detailed open-world setting that truly captures the essence of Yokosuka in the 80s. 

 

Doom (1993) This pioneering first-person shooter pits players against demonic hordes from Hell by placing them in control of Doomguy, the physical embodiment of a fate much worse than death.

 

Super Mario Bros.:  (1985) This iconic platformer has players navigate Mario through the Mushroom Kingdom to rescue Princess Toadstool from the nefarious Bowser.

 

Half-Life:  (1998) This first-person shooter combines combat and storytelling as players control Gordon Freeman, battling alien creatures and military personnel.

 

The Legend of Zelda: Ocarina of Time:  (1998) This fantasy action-adventure game follows Link’s journey to stop Ganondorf from obtaining the Triforce, and is particularly beloved due to its enchanting soundtrack

 

Minecraft:  (2011) This sandbox game allows players to build and explore procedurally generated worlds made up of blocks, offering both creative and survival modes.

 

Kingdom Come: Deliverance 2:  (2025) The most recent entry to make this list, this is a deeply engaging action role playing game (RPG) set in a rich open world as protagonist Henry Skalitz embarks on a quest fuelled with a lust for revenge.

 

Super Mario 64:  (1996) The second entry featuring Mario, this groundbreaking 3D platformer has players guide the titular character through Princess Peach’s castle to collect Power Stars and thwart Bowser’s plans.

 

Half-Life 2:  (2004) This critically acclaimed first-person shooter continues Gordon Freeman’s battle against alien forces and oppressive regimes in a dystopian setting.

 

The Sims:  (2000) This life simulation game lets players create and control their Sims, managing their daily activities and relationships.

 

 

11-21

 

Tetris (1984)

 

Tomb Raider (1996)

 

Pong (1972)

 

Metal Gear Solid (1998)

 

World of Warcraft (2004)

 

Baldur’s Gate 3 (2023)

 

Final Fantasy VII (1997)

 

Dark Souls (2011)

 

Grand Theft Auto 3 (2001)

 

Skyrim (2011)

 

Grand Theft Auto (1997)